NCAA Basketball Picks: Marquette vs. Miami

Tuesday, March 26, 2013 1:50 PM ET

Tension are sure to be high, as advancing to the Elite 8 will be at stake in the East Region on Thursday when #3 seeded Marquette and #2 seeded Miami clash. Where are we looking to place our sports picks in this Sweet 16 matchup.

Sweet 16
Pick: Marquette vs. Miami Florida

The Marquette Golden Eagles with meet the Miami Hurricanes this
Thursday in Sweet 16 action when the two teams collide at the Verizon Center in
Washington, DC.

The SU winner will earn the right to advance to the Elite 8
portion of the bracket, but find out which way we are going with ourNCAA Basketball picks
to beat the odds for this matchup.

The sportsbooks consensus has the Hurricanes listed as -5 ½ point
favorites, but if you are looking to make a play on the Golden Eagles, you might
be able to find +6 at a few NCAA Basketball odds shops.

As expected, the over/under total is coming in low, with a current
number posted at 127 points. Miami has landed under the total 17 times this
season, while Marquette feel under the number in 13 contests. However, Miami
has eclipsed the total in 7 of their last 10 games overall.

Miami was able to oust Illinois in their previous matchup by a
score of 63-59 to reach this point in the tournament, though they failed to
cover the chalk of -8 points.

Meanwhile, Marquette was also involved in a tight one the last
time out, winning by a score of 74-72 over Butler. However, the Golden Eagles
earned the ATS win, covering the slim -1 ½ spread.

A Look At
The Stats

Marquette’s offense is averaging 68.8 points per game compared to
the Hurricanes, who are dropping in nearly 70 points per outing (69.9).
However, from behind the arc, the Hurricanes have a much bigger advantage,
hitting an average of 7.0 per game from downtown compared to 4.3 by the Golden
Eagles.

On defense, Miami is a bit stinger and slightly better, with a
points against average of 60.3 per game, while Marquette is allowing just under
63 points per contest (62.9).

The Pick

Miami is the better and more confident
team in this matchup, though both squads are hoping to carry over the luck they
had from the prior rounds in this tournament.

However, Miami will spoil the Golden
Eagles bid to advance to the next round, ultimately putting an end to
Marquette’s season, while moving on to the Elite 8 with a huge win and point
spread cover.